#048

…I stopped in front of the stairs leading down to a basement where no light reached.

‘This is damn eerie and ominous….’

I gripped the wall and craned my neck to peer down.

It looked as if a pitch-black darkness had opened its maw.

‘Holy shit, I’m terrified.’

I felt as though if I took even a single step, some incorporeal monster would suddenly snatch my ankle and drag me down the stairs.

‘Of course, this isn’t a horror game, so that won’t happen, but….’

I’ll be honest.

I’m a total coward.

I can’t play horror games, and I absolutely never watch horror movies.

How did I handle ‘Die Heretic!’?

That’s because Athanas is damn strong.

Ghosts that explode when you swing the Divine Hammer aren’t scary.

What’s scary is the moment you’re powerless and forced to run.

I looked down the dark stairs and pondered.

‘…Do I really need to check for myself?’

Of course, if I didn’t check, I’d keep worrying about whether [Regression] existed or not.

But you don’t always have to see things with your own eyes to confirm them.

Humans possess intelligence.

‘Let’s think logically.’

If I go down there now, the scenes I might encounter are probably…

There are no traces at all.

There are traces that a secret space was opened.

There are only attempts to find a secret space, having scorched the innocent floor.

It’ll be one of these three, right?

But regardless of which scene I see, I cannot gain certainty that [Regression] does not exist.

In case 1, since I’m a goblin bastard who shouldn’t be doing strange things, I can’t set fire to the place to check, so I can’t confirm if a secret space exists.

In case 2, I’d know a secret space exists, but I wouldn’t know if [Regression] was inside it or if it was empty.

The same goes for case 3.

‘Because if I were the person who obtained Regression, I would have forged case 2 to look like case 3.’

So, in the end, the conclusion is that no matter what I see by going down, I gain nothing.

‘No, I might gain a tremendous amount of danger.’

If it were me, I’d set a trap where the secret space is located.

Who else would come looking for a place where a Hidden Piece is located other than a player?

It doesn’t need to be a grand trap.

Just burning a peculiar incense or sprinkling a unique dye on the floor would be enough to identify anyone who visited the spot.

Therefore, if I go down there without a sufficient reason, ‘Fabio’ would arouse suspicion that he possesses the memories of a player while pretending not to.

‘And well, even if I find out [Regression] exists, what then?’

If I find out it’s gone, I’ll be relieved.

But what if I find out it’s there?

Wouldn’t I miss the time when I could run a “happy circuit” imagining it didn’t exist?

Acquiring pessimistic information in a powerless situation where there’s nothing you can do only brings endless fear.

You have to be in the driver’s seat to at least jerk the steering wheel right before an accident.

If you’re sitting in the back seat with your seatbelt fastened, all you can do when you see a truck coming is scream.

I’m the kind of person who would want to lose consciousness before knowing if a plane is crashing.

‘…Whether [Regression] is there or not, the Church probably already knows and has prepared sufficiently.’

They said there are other players who surrendered besides me.

Presumably, a thoughtful player, suspected to be the [Pioneer of Civilization], would have reported this matter as well.

If so, the fact that there are no people in the Branch Office would be definitive evidence that [Regression] does not exist here.

Because they would never leave a player alone in a place where such an important Hidden Piece is located….

‘Then, the reason Elamin brought me to the Branch Office in the first place….’

Was it a test to see if I remembered this space?

‘Someone might have been watching my every move.’

Cold sweat trickled down.

‘Did I do anything strange?’

I retraced my actions.

I did stare at the stained glass for a long time, but I could just say a country bumpkin was overwhelmed by a sight he’d never seen before….

‘I didn’t actually go down to the basement.’

I was curious if there were books down there, but I can just say it was too dark and I didn’t dare go down.

‘Good, even if someone was watching, it should be fine.’

I might be overthinking, but being excessively cautious was better than being careless.

You never know what might happen.

‘I should act as if I’m being monitored 24 hours a day until the Day the Starry Sky Opens.’

No matter how sloppy the Church is, they wouldn’t fully trust a player. They would have set up at least some minimum safeguards.

‘If I do nothing until that day, the Church will truly believe I was a nobody.’

That was exactly what I wanted.

‘I’ll live as a guy so boring that the person monitoring me will writhe in boredom.’

Since I actually am such a guy, I didn’t even need to put in extra effort to look that way.

With Strength 30, Endurance 25, and Charm 30.

‘I’ll just read books all day today.’

Having decided that, I headed upstairs.

I recall there were many books on the second floor that looked like novels….

‘But there really are no people.’

Picking up a few books, I sat comfortably in the spot with the best sunlight.

‘It’s nice and quiet.’

Perhaps Elamin really brought me here out of consideration.

I should thank her later.

‘It wouldn’t be unpleasant for a goblin to say thank you, right?’

While thinking that, I read about ten pages of the first book I chose, only to realize it was an actual genealogy of some family written in prose.

‘I thought the character introductions were a bit long….’

I never imagined it was a book consisting entirely of character introductions.

‘Why keep a genealogy in a library?’

Just as that question occurred to me, I heard the sound of a chair being pulled.

It seemed someone was about to sit right in front of me.

‘There are so many seats, why right in front of me?’

I wondered for a moment, but then realized this spot had the best sunlight.

‘Right, you have to read in a bright place.’

I continued flipping pages.

Since it was related to actual history, I thought it would be somewhat beneficial to read.

I had no intention of checking who the person in front of me was.

They were likely a stranger anyway, and it would be troublesome if we locked eyes and started a conversation. It was only my second day at the Capital Church, and there was too much I didn’t know.

‘Why risk chatting and getting caught as a goblin.’

Tap tap.

Then, the person sitting in front of me tapped the desk to make a sound.

‘Are they calling me?’

I briefly retraced if I had done something wrong.

Was it rude not to greet the person sitting in front of me?

‘Fuck, who cares. If they give me a hard time, I’ll just bow my head and say I didn’t know because I just got here yesterday.’

Thinking so, I lifted my head.

And I froze instantly.

‘…Athanas?’

I blinked several times, wondering if I had seen wrong.

But I hadn’t.

Perhaps because it was the spot with the best sunlight, I saw him clearly in 8K resolution.

Fine black hair and deep blue eyes.

Since it was an era where water wasn’t scarce yet, it was a fresh-faced Athanas.

‘He might look more like that because he’s young, but….’

No, why is Athanas here?

Seeing as there’s no book in front of him, it doesn’t seem like he came to read….

‘Wait, then has he been observing me while I read?’

Why?

Why me?

What did I do?

What did I?

‘…Could the Saintess have sent him? To see if I have memories as a player?’

“Why are you so surprised to see a person’s face?”

“Huh?”

“I asked why you were so surprised to see a person’s face.”

At Athanas’s question, I snapped back to my senses.

‘This is 100% a test!’

In times like these, quick reflexes were key.

“B-because you’re so handsome!”

“What did you just say?”

“Wow, you’re so surprisingly handsome. For a moment, I almost forgot how to breathe.”

“…Am I handsome?”

‘Do they not give compliments about being handsome in the Dark Realm?’

Why is everyone’s reaction like this?

“Eh? How can you look like that and not know you’re handsome? Good grief. If I were you, I’d put a bowl of water out and stare into it every day. Just to see if I’m still handsome today!”

“…I imagine people who look like me are common.”

‘What kind of bullshit….’

“Have you never seen anyone similar around you?”

“Eh? Common? What are you talking about…. This is the first time in my life I’ve seen someone like you. If it were a common face, would I be this surprised?”

“You might be surprised because I resemble someone you know.”

“Not at all. Really.”

‘If the Saintess is watching… she’ll just think Fabio is a sucker for looks, right?’

Athanas frowned slightly, as if something was unsatisfying.

For a moment, I felt my heart drop.

‘Calm down. Right now, Athanas is not the Heretic Crusher. In the peaceful Church of Order, Athanas doesn’t swing his hammer the moment he sees a heretic. Right now, Athanas is not the Heretic Crusher….’

“…Why are you surprised again?”

“Eh? Was I surprised? I was just thinking, ‘Wow, how can even a frowning face be so handsome?’ and I guess it showed on the outside.”

“You’re surprised because I’m handsome.”

“That’s right. I, uh, lived in a remote area, so I’ve hardly ever seen handsome men or beautiful women in my life. So I’m not used to handsome faces. That’s why I keep getting surprised like this.”

“Then how was it when you saw the Saintess’s face?”

“The Saintess?”

I widened my eyes.

‘Fabio must not even suspect that this situation is a test.’

However, ‘Fabio’ must not be completely dim-witted.

If he looks too stupid, they might conclude it’s better to restrict his freedom.

‘Therefore, Fabio will act like an ordinary Chanter who thinks a stranger suddenly spoke to him.’

It would be natural for an ordinary Chanter who arrived at the Capital Church only yesterday to have never seen the Saintess’s face.

Fabio would have that much judgment.

“Now that you mention it! I wonder what would happen if I saw the Saintess? I’m worried I might just faint on the spot. I’ve heard many stories that the Saintess is beauty itself. They say she’s so dazzling that one might go blind!”

“…Have you never seen her in person?”

“I haven’t. I’ve never even seen her from afar!”

Athanas frowned a bit more.

‘Why is he doing that?’

Is he doing that because he’s listening to some telepathic message from the Saintess?

Telepathy can only be sent between apostles, but if one uses a Sacred Relic, non-apostles can receive it. Of course, they can’t send, so they can only listen.

“The Saintess…. I’ll be able to see her someday, right? Uh, Sir Knight, have you seen the Saintess’s face? How beautiful is she?”

I babbled even more out of nervousness. Athanas still didn’t unfurl his brow.

“…Come to think of it, we haven’t exchanged names yet.”

“Ah, excuse me. My name is Fabio. I’m a country bumpkin who just arrived at the Capital Church yesterday. I don’t know much, so please forgive me if I make a mistake, and please correct me immediately if I do something wrong.”

“…Is that your real name?”

“Eh? Are there fake names in this world? I suppose people introduce themselves with fake names in the capital? I’m a bumpkin, so I only have one name. I’ve been called Fabio ever since I was born. It’s a name my father gave me after much deliberation. It means ‘harvest.’ What is your name, Sir Knight?”

“I am….”

Athanas stopped mid-sentence and closed his mouth.

‘Why is he hesitating to tell me his name?’

He’s probably doing this to see if I have memories as a player, but hesitating during a name introduction is too unnatural.

Soon, Athanas spoke with a reluctant attitude.

“…I am called Adrian.”

‘Did he hesitate because he forgot what alias to use?’

This must be a test to find a player who would be flustered, thinking, ‘Wait, not Athanas?’

But being fully prepared, I answered immediately without a hint of delay.

“Adrian! That’s a wonderful name. May I call you Mr. Adrian?”

“…Is the name alright?”

“Eh? What do you mean alright? Did I just commit some rudeness?”

“I asked if the name Adrian is alright.”

‘What does he want me to do.’

If I say that, is there some player who would be hooked and say, ‘Alright? It’s not alright! Athanas is not Athanas! This is nonsense!! You are Athanas!! My Athanas!!’ or something?

‘…The fact that such a person might actually exist is a bit scary.’

But I was not such a crazy person.

“Hmm. I think it’s a very cool name! Wow, I didn’t know a name could feel handsome too! Or perhaps because I know it’s the name of a handsome person, the name itself feels handsome?”

“…Have you ever seen another person with the name Adrian in your life?”

I briefly tried to strongly recall the keyword ‘Adrian.’

No narration appeared.

“No? I don’t think so. At least not in my memory.”

“…Do you happen to have a sibling?”

“Ah, I’m an only child. My mother passed away early from an illness after giving birth to me, and my father never remarried.”

“…….”

“Uh, is Mr. Adrian an only child?”

“I am an orphan.”

“…Ah. I see. Then who gave you that wonderful name? A priest?”

“A certain liar gave it to me.”

“I… see?”

A liar.

Who is he talking about?

‘Is he talking about the Saintess, who is making him do this kind of acting, the meaning of which he doesn’t even understand?’

49 – #049